Knapsack.



Patented Mar. I3, |900.

L. WEISENBURGER.

KN A P S A C K (Application iild Aug. 31 1899.)

(No Model.)

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LEO NVEISENBURGER, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEV YORK.

KNAPSACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,151, dated March13, 1900.

l Application tiled August 3l, 1899. Serial No. 729,026. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LEO WEISENBURGER, a subject of the Emperor ofGermany, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of Westchester andState of New York, have invented' certain new and useful Improvements inKnapsacks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to army-knapsacks, the object being to produce anarticle of this character which may be used in case of an emergency as ashield against bullets of an enemy and which may be grouped or placedwith others of its kind to form a temporary redout or fortification,behind which a company of soldiers may intrench themselves to make astand against an enemy.

To this end my invention consists of a knapsack provided with one ormore bullet-proof armored sides and with means whereby the knapsack maybe made to stand upright upon the ground and other means whereby one ormore knapsacks maybe placed on top of each other to form a wall.

The invention will be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying` drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of aknapsack constructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is aplan of the bottom of the same with parts broken away.

Referring to the drawings by letter, Arepresents the knapsack proper. Itis provided with the usual flap or lid a, which in this instance is madeof two thicknesses of material a a2, secured together at the edges andforming a pocket in which is placed a sheet of metal b, extendingsubstantially throughout the full dimensions of the flap. This metal maybe of aluminium or an alloy containing aluminium or of any othersuitable bulletproof material. Likewise this armor may be placed in theopposite wall of the knapsackthat is, the Wall that rests against theback of the wearer-but I prefer to put it in the iiap, as described. Aknapsack when made in this way may be a little wider and higher thanusual in order to furnish as large a shield as possible.

At each of the lower corners of the knapsack I place spurs c. These aresuitably hinged at said corners and are provided With springs c', whichtend to fold them up against the bottom of the knapsack in the positionshown in Fig. 2, which is the normal position when the knapsack is usedonly as aluggagecarrier.

When desired as a protection against bullets, the knapsack can bequickly removed from the shoulders and the spurs thrown out to theposition shown in Fig. l and forced into the ground, Where they willsupport the knapsack in an upright position, and thus furnish aprotection behind which a soldier may lie and re at the enemy withlittle danger of being hit himself. The knapsack in this position alsoaffordsa convenient rest for the gun of the soldier in ring.

To make a higher and more considerable fortification, the knapsacks maybe stacked on top of each other and side by side, and for this purpose Iprovide in the upper corners of the knapsack the pockets e e, Which aremerely sockets shaped to receive the spurs of another knapsack. When oneof the knapsacks has been anchored in the ground, another may be placedon top of it and supported by the spurs passing into these sockets. Twoor more may be placed on top of each other in this Way, forming a tieralongside of which other tiers may be arranged to form a continuous andsubstantial barricade. Extra knapsacks belonging to the' Wounded or deadon the field can usually be obtained for this purpose.

Having described my invention, I claiml. A knapsac-k provided with spursalong one edge adapted to be forced into the ground to support it in anupright position and sockets along the opposite edge adapted vto receivethe spurs of another knapsack, for the purpose set forth.

2. A knapsack provided with bullet-proof armor and spurs along one edgeadapted to be forced into the ground to support it in an uprightposition, and sockets along the opposite edge adapted to receive thespurs of another knapsackwhereby the knapsack may be used as a temporaryfortification.

In witness whereof I subscribe my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

LEO WEISENBURGER.

Titnessesz .FRANK S. OBER, Gr. S. KENNEDY.

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